• Step 1 – Login to the WordPress admin of your website.
• Step 2 – Go to plugins and click on add new.
• Step 3 – Upload the plugin as a zipped file.
• Step 4 – Activate the plugin to make it available in your WordPress admin.

Set your correct time zone in WordPress to allow your SMS to be delivered at a time consistent with your time zone. In your WordPress admin, go to general under settings and find time zone. From the drop-down menu, select a city that corresponds to your correct time zone. Click the save changes button.

Configure two Cron jobs to send SMS for general purposes and for birthdays. Learn how to configure a Cron Job at https://blog.cpanel.com/how-to-configure-a-cron-job/

1. General purpose SMS Cron Job: https://yourdomainname.com/wp-json/ez-json/v1/cron/schedule.
2. Birthday SMS Cron Job: https://yourdomainname.com/wp-json/ez-json/v1/cron/birthday

• Choose Twilio, Telnyx, or Vonage and sign up for an account to use our SMS plugin. Each carrier offers SMS phone numbers for US and international countries but you can send SMS from any country phone number integrated with ezSMS Blaster to any country you choose. Costs depend on countries where SMS originates but also on phone carriers where SMS is received. Vonage is recommended for EU customers although it does support International SMS including the US. Once you select your carrier, the appropriate credential fields will display in the plugin settings and need to be completed. Follow the steps below for the SMS carrier account of your choice.

Twilio #

• • Sign up for your free Twilio trial account at https://www.twilio.com/try-twilio

• • Your Twilio webhook URL: https://yourdomain.com/wp-json/ez-json/v1/incoming/twilio
  • Enter Credentials in general settings including
    • Twilio Phone Number (include country code with no spaces or dashes)
    • Twilio API SID
    • Twilio Auth Token

Telnyx #

• • Sign Up for a Telnyx Mission Control Portal Account at https://telnyx.com/sign-up

• • Buy an SMS-capable Telnyx Phone Number at https://portal.telnyx.com/#/app/numbers/search-numbers

• • Create a Messaging Profile – https://portal.telnyx.com/#/app/programmable-messaging/profiles

• • Add your webhook URL to your Telnyx messaging profile to receive SMS at https://portal.telnyx.com/#/app/programmable-messaging/profiles/edit/400182df-f7d4-4f77-83d1-aa35e0b2ecda Copy and paste your webhook URL in two fields under inbound settings.

• • Your webhook URL: https://your-domain.com/wp-json/ez-json/v1/incoming/telnyx
  • Enter Telnyx Credentials in General Settings https://portal.telnyx.com/#/app/home
    • Telnyx Phone Number (include country code with no spaces or dashes)
    • Telnyx API KEY

Vonage #

• • Signup for Vonage at https://ui.idp.vonage.com/ui/auth/registration

• • Buy a Number at https://dashboard.nexmo.com/buy-numbers

• • Get API credentials (API key, API secret) https://dashboard.nexmo.com/

• • Add your webhook link to your Vonage console to receive SMS https://dashboard.nexmo.com/settings

• • Your Webhook URL: https://your-domain.com/wp-json/ez-json/v1/incoming/vonage
  • Enter Vonage Credentials in General Settings
    • Vonage Phone Number (include country code with no spaces or dashes)
    • Vonage API KEY
    • Vonage API SECRET

Manage Lists #back to top #

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Easily create any number of targeted lists. Once a list is created, you have options to edit or delete the list. To create a list:

• Complete the list name and description fields.
• Click the Add SMS List button.
• Any one of your lists may be designated as a birthday list for use with a birthday opt-in form with fields for month and day of the subscriber’s birthday. The birthday form with an optional incentive digital gift can build a large list rapidly. It automatically sends the SMS message and gift on the subscriber’s birthday. The birthday list, form, and gift are all managed within the plugin.
• To edit a list, click the pencil icon. Make changes to list name and description as desired. Then click the update list button to save. Reload the page to view edited list changes.
• To delete a list, click the trash can icon to the right of the list. Please note that deleting a list will delete all contacts within that list.

Lists will be available throughout each part of the plugin to support the association of a list with contacts, campaigns, opt-in forms, etc. #

The initial screen of manage contacts provides you with a list of all contacts entered. Above the listings, you may filter contacts by a specific list or search for a contact by name or phone number. Contacts edited or deleted from the ALL list, will apply to ALL contacts in ALL lists. Contacts edited or deleted from a specific list will only apply to that list. The plugin provides options to add first and last name fields to contacts to personalize SMS messages. To add contacts, click the add contacts button on the top right of this screen.

Contacts may be added to a list manually one at a time, or by importing a bulk list as a CSV file.

• Begin by selecting the list where you want to add contacts. You may only add contacts to one list at a time.
• Check the box to confirm that you have permission to add the contacts. **Warning – buying SMS lists (spamming) is prohibited and can result in your SMS account being permanently suspended. No refunds for your plugin service from ezSMSBlaster will be issued for spamming practices**

Manually Adding Contacts #

• If adding the contacts manually, complete optional name fields and required phone number in the correct format (international format without spaces. e.g. +12392222222) for each contact and save.

Bulk Adding Contacts

• If adding a bulk list of contacts, prepare a CSV file with First Name, Last Name, and Phone headers, even if the name fields are empty. Format the phone number in the correct format (international format without spaces. e.g. +12392222222)
• * Maximum import limit is 2000 contacts at a time; the rest will be excluded automatically. Drag or upload your CSV file into the bulk add space and save.
• Click the Add Contacts button. Be patient as the process may take some time to complete. When all numbers are added, the system will display a DONE message.

• The initial screen of Manage Campaigns provides you with a paginated list of all campaigns including name of the campaign, list name, text message, scheduled date and time, status (scheduled, running, complete), and a button to view delivery data for completed campaigns.
• The view button for completed campaigns links to delivery details including campaign name, number of texts sent, success rate, invalid contacts, number failed to deliver, number blocked by user/carrier, and number of credits used.
• Above campaign data, campaigns can be filtered for a specific date range, list, and/or status.
• Campaigns that are scheduled but not yet running will have edit or delete buttons. A button for creating a new campaign displays on the top right.

Manage Opt-In Forms #back to top #

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The Manage Opt-In Forms screen provides a listing of all forms you have created. It allows you to view, edit, clone, and delete forms. By giving your forms a descriptive title (only visible to you), it will be easier to identify forms that you may wish to modify and/or use.

Opt-In forms on a well-designed landing page can help you to build substantial targeted lists for acquiring more leads and customers. Fully responsive HTML forms are easy to create and customize with your messaging, colors, and terms. Each form allows you to offer an incentive digital gift that is simple to manage within the plugin. Follow these steps to create a new form:

• Click the button on the top right of manage opt-in forms to add a new form.
• Select a list for subscribers who will opt-in to your form.
• Give your form a descriptive name. This will display on the manage opt-in forms main screen where you can view, edit, clone, or delete a form.
• Enter your form title, e.g., Get Our SMS in Your Phone
• Enter user instruction that displays below the title. Tell subscribers what you want them to do and what they will get, e.g., Enter your info below to get an instant free gift and special offers.
• Add your terms and conditions. Copy an example by clicking the button for Example T&C. The bottom of your T&C will include a non-editable message that incorporates content from settings and says: This SMS message is being sent from [domain] by [company name].
• Style your form by changing colors for background fonts, button, and link.
• Click the Opt-In Gifts button on the top right if you wish to add a digital incentive gift for getting more form opt-ins. Your gift may be a coupon that you create from the plugin. It may be a digital document that you uploaded to your media library and link to it in your gift message.

Every opt-in form created is associated with a specific list that can be incentivized with a discount or gift. The gifts can be a media file (jpg, gif, png, pdf) or a coupon generated by the plugin that supports HTML. Click the list to add or edit an opt-in gift for that list.

• Select SMS list.
• Add a message to the text field.
• Insert media file or coupon from system (optional).
• Check box to enable opt-in gift.
• Click button to create gift.
• Return to the opt-in form, copy the HTML code, and paste it into any HTML page or post on your website with content to promote your form and offer.